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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

I'll highlight one of the two boxes I picked up from the show here. I picked up this box for $40 but they usually go for $60, and as most of you know, these are probably the most beautiful base cards you'll ever see. Each card is printed on a canvas stock and is an artist's representation. Instead of a set based on players, each card is based on a moment in baseball history (even though the card names on the back are often players). The most beautiful and important cards in the set are the historical ones of players like Ripken, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Yogi Berra, and many others. Even though I'm a newer collector and have always preferred football, each card draws me in and makes me want to research the event on the card.

First of all, here is the box topper:

Simply unbelievable. The card is ridiculously beautiful. If you're an Indians fan, even though Victor Martinez now plays for the Tigers, please contact me about a trade because you have to have this card in your collection.

My two numbered inserts were the Walter Johnson (#15/50) and Lou Gehrig Day (#37/75) cards. The Ichiro is an example of the non-numbered framed cards.

Here's some horizontal goodness. I was extremely excited to pull the amazing Lincecum rookie.

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Here are some other rookies and framed cards.

These are types of base cards this set is really about though. These paintings really tell stories. I shamefully stole these scans below by the way...

In what seems like an afterthought, the box contains three memorabilia cards and one autograph. The memorabilia cards are pretty terrible with boring designs and small swatches. The autographs are on-card but look kind of strange on the canvas. They don't really retain any value either.

This Glavine is already in the mail.

For Trade.

Now this is a nice jersey card! I always like pulling an old game-used!

This Cliff Lee auto is of a great player, but I wish the design could have been better. While the rest of the set requires few words, the masterpieces logo and the stroke of genius letters distract from the card. I really don't get why they would use pictures for the hits when the whole point of the set is the paintings. These Stroke of Genius autos have pretty low value for on-card autos, and if you pull one you don't want to keep, you won't get much money back for selling the card.

All in all, this is an unbelievably beautiful product and one of my favorites. I'm not really sure if it meets the Best Boxes criteria for this blog because the usual price is pretty high for a product with such terrible hits. I'd recommend trading for the base cards or buying some blasters online instead. In terms of "value," I don't think that buying a box is the best way to experience this product. Just go for base cards instead.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The boxes of 2008 Certified have been pretty cheap for a while, going for $55 while most other Certified products go for $100. The rookie class isn't that bad and I prefer the base design to the 2010 boxes, so I picked up two boxes. I also picked up two of the 2009 blasters which guarantee a hit. This is a pretty quick post.

Here are the inserts, let me know if you're interested in any of them. I prefer the 2008 inserts since the later ones leave large empty spots for the jersey and autographed versions. I've always thought that Certified's rookie set is just too large. The numbered cards and autographs are almost always of no-name players.

I pulled an auto out of the blaster, but Hunter Cantwell is a third stringer.

The jersey cards were small swatches, but good players. My luck was pretty poor, for I pulled only one auto in the first box and and only three jersey hits in the second box (when there should be four hits total).

The Ray Rice was by far the best pull, but I felt completely shafted after the terrible second box.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Thanks to Ryan G over at This Card is Cool for helping notify me about the GT sports marketing card show this weekend. I didn't think I would get to go, but at the last minute, my friend asked me to go. I was shocked because most of my friends don't understand our hobby at all.

Anways: here's everything I bought, which you'll see divided into many upcoming posts:

Personally I'm proud of the 1991 Archives box that I picked up for $20. I really should have picked up the two others since I'm sure that many bloggers love the product. Most of the hits in toploaders will be sent out immediately as parts of trades.

Here are packages that will all be going out in the mail this week. That huge stack of cards is Morgan's grand prize! I sold the Blake Griffin on eBay for $66. Even though the Blake saved the box, I really shouldn't have bought Totally Certified....

Saturday, August 27, 2011

During the past few weeks, Thorzul at Thorzul Will Rule has been detailing the top 100 finds from a lot he purchased on eBay. He purchased an additional lot and hosted a "break" with the cards the lot contained. I picked up the Giants and had little idea what to expect. Thorzul highlighted a Lincecum Refractor and a Buster Posey Obak Mini, but I wondered how many other quality cards would arrive in the package. I also claimed a Daequan Cook jersey card.

I sorted out most of the junk wax: here's the rest of the cards.

Here are some newer cards, Topps, Bowman, and Icons. I love the ballpark shot.

The Lincecum refractor is in the middle of this page. The Allen & Ginter is really nice.

Here are some older cards, I especially like the Kevin Mitchell mini.

I was quite surprised to see two of the Posey minis. I didn't think I would get my hands on a Belt chrome anytime soon since they are way overpriced around here. The Belt was a great surprise.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

I've had success selling some old stuff on eBay, so I decided to treat myself to a couple of purchases.

Here's a Chris Johnson patch, for some reason it looked like a 3 color patch in the eBay scan even though I should know that the ones numbered to 50 are 2 color. This card doesn't come close to my SJAX three color patch,.

And Here's the real beauty, my first booklet. They were listed for around $55, but I watched all of the listings. Eventually, one seller put the card for sale for $29 and I immediately picked up a copy. I've always been fascinated with booklets and have never seen one. They are definitely everything I expected and more. I'm a fan of Gerhart because of his play at Stanford, so this card was perfect for my collection. Unfortunately, I have no skill with tools so I'll have to find a step by step guide to make a case... There's only one for the horizontal booklets up on bustingpacks, but maybe there are vertical booklet cases for sale. Right now, I can't display the booklet though.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

I picked up the 3 color Steven Jackson Patch with stitching for $10 last week, and I couldn't resist adding another Gold Team patch to my collection.

The Rams face the Titans today, who are without holdout Chris Johnson! I picked up his patch for $8! Sounds like a good deal to me. I've had some success selling on eBay lately, so you'll see some more good stuff soon.

Javon Ringer should replace Chris Johnson today. I picked up this card at a card show. Ringer can really play and someday he'll get a chance to start somewhere.

Today will also mark the return of Laurinaitis and Donnie Avery in addition to SJAX!

Yes it's probably too soon to see these cards again if you've been reading... I need to increase the size of my collection!

I hope to see more from Lance Kendricks!

I picked up this card for $0.99 before the first preseason game and now it's selling for $25 after a strong first performance.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Hey everyone, the contest extended a bit longer than expected, but we made some great progress.
I gained 28 followers and went from 2,000 views to 3,300!

I entered everyone the amount of times that they had entries, and we came up with one grand prize winner who will receive 28 hits! Although I originally promised all average to above average players, I might include some hobby packs plus 20 hits instead of eight useless hits.

I was extremely busy this week so I didn't get a chance to go to the hobby store for the Dimwit's prize and I haven't mailed out any of the earlier prizes. I apologize, and the cards will be in the mail ASAP.

Now...... the grand prize winner! I took the 5th randomization!

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Congratulations to Morgan!

Now I have two extra prizes too!

Since eight is my favorite number and also the number of my favorite current player, Sam Bradford.

Congratulations to #8. BASEBALL DAD.

You win an assortment of chrome baseball refractors!

I also have a prize for The Diamond King, who managed to come last in the randomization!

You win an assortment of gold Topps and Bowman cards!

Thanks a lot for the support and I hope you continue to read the blog!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Well, apparently people keep joining the contest even though I planned to end the contest yesterday, but the more the merrier. The drawing is now scheduled for tomorrow! We've gained two followers since I thought the contest had ended.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Hey everyone, I've been busy so I didn't get to post yesterday. The contest is coming to a close and the final drawing will be held tomorrow!

I discussed the Press Pass Kickoff Edition Blasters previously and there's a link in the best boxes sidebar. Basically, for $25 you get four exclusive rookie on card autographs and a few retail packs of Press Pass Portrait Edition which are pretty terrible. I didn't do so well this time, but I did pull a Clausen auto.

I'm a big fan of the SJAX three color patch with stitching. The Rams team colors go well with the gold team theme.

Today's question for three entries into the final drawing: What's the best pull of your life?

Sunday, August 14, 2011

He also threw in some really cool extras including a Fathead and a silly band!

Can anyone please explain to me what the 2007 SP Authentic Letterman autos spell? For Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum I saw I, A, and N, so I thought they spelled out Giants. However, there are also O's and lots of different numbered letters. I really can't tell what's supposed to spell what.

By the way, as we approach the end of the contest, I can assure you there will be more prizes at the final drawing than just the grand prize!

Here's an opportunity to earn two entries towards the contest:

If you could buy any card you wanted, what card would it be? (for your personal collection). You can choose one vintage and one modern card.

Friday, August 12, 2011

My beautiful birthday gift is finally framed! It just makes me speechless and is an unbelievable addition to my collection. This is one of those items that makes you feel like you'll never pull or get anything better.

And congratulations to The Dimwit who wins three hobby packs of Topps Lineage!

Here are the standings so far, thanks for all the advice today, let me know if you see a mistake.

I had to take advantage of the brilliant singles selection at Burbank Sports Cards when I was down in Pasadena last week. Be sure to enter in the post below for a chance to win three hobby packs of Topps Lineage! The winner will be announced tonight.

Here's a Lincecum rookie, a nice green chrome Heritage refractor, and some sportflics. There's also a Deacon Jones and a Sam Bradford rookie.

Here are some Rams hits I picked up:

Laurinaitis is one of the best MLB's in the league, and most Upper Deck Heroes autos are a bargain no matter the sport.

Here's my first Sam Bradford hit.

Deacon Jones is the best pass rusher of all time, but unfortunately he played before sacks were recorded.

Aeneas Williams is one of my favorite players and these Topps Chrome Pro Bowl relics are pretty rare.

Here's a beauty I picked up, a 1948 Kenny Washington. Washington reintegrated the NFL after WWII when racial barriers were lifted on pro football. Washington joined the Rams two years before his UCLA teammate Jackie Robinson broke out with the Dodgers. Washington could have been as great as Robinson, but NFL teams passed on him until he was 28 and suffered serious injuries in the Pacific Coast Professional Football League. It's a shame that Washington's story isn't more well known.

For three entries into the final drawing:

I need to start selling some cards on eBay, so it would really help me out if you could leave a comment linking me to a guide or giving me some advice on starting out as a seller on eBay. Thanks!

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About CCC

Thanks for visiting the site! This site is a sports card blog focused on finding low-mid end boxes and packs with the best value and passing on the information to readers in addition to the usual blog posts. Check out the best box breaks tab for the highly recommended products so far. I also will post weekly deals from sports cards dealers around the web and highlight any sales. Check out the deals and contests tabs to see contests in the blogosphere and highlighted deals from various websites! Please follow as I continue to build and update the site and tell me if you think there's any box that's a great value that I should highlight!